Page 131 of The Dark Side

"Bring Katia," he ordered to the open air, and someone quickly left to do his bidding.

Zinof turned his head, searching the shadows. He was bleeding from every spot. His ears, his nose, his eyes, his lips. There were whip marks on his back. He sat in only underwear. Someone had cleaned up Zinof's shit recently. The room didn't smell as bad as it typically did.

"Adrik," he panted. "My father is gonna kill you."

Adrik smiled. Threats were humorous coming from someone trapped in his house. A soldier came to him, holding up a baggie of cocaine. Adrik pinched the white powder, placing it on the back of his hand before he sniffed it. The burn was instant, and he rubbed at his nose till it passed. It took only moments for the drug to work into his system, and he closed his eyes, enjoying it. He hadn't had a hit since Jolie came into his life. He had been trying to be something he wasn't. And look where that got him.

But there was no escaping the Mafia.

It wasn't long till Katia was shoved into the room. She fought the soldier at first, but then she froze upon seeing Zinof. Pain flashed over her face, and she found Adrik in the dark. "What are you doing?"

"Giving you justice."

She shook her head, trying to back up, but the soldier remained behind her, blocking her path. "Please."

"He tried to kill Helina," Adrik reasoned. "Do you want mercy?"

She shivered, and her gaze returned to her brother. "Zinof, why did you attack my daughter?"

Zinof curled his lip. "All of them deserve to fucking die."

A soldier shocked him with a small jolt of electricity. And though Adrik enjoyed it, he watched Katia's expression. She tried to hide her face, covering her mouth to suppress any screams.

"I want you to tell your father something," Adrik said to Katia. "I can keep him alive for years. Or, if he would rather, I could send the body to him tomorrow. It is his choice."

"What do you want?"

A divorce,Adrik nearly said. It would have been the perfect opportunity to get it. He could withdraw from the contract, and their families could go their separate ways peacefully. The war would be over before it even began. No one would die, and Agent Mally could have her peace.

But without Jolie, what was the point of it? There were other things he could bargain for, things that would make him more powerful. Things that could bring him millions. And maybe by doing so, he could save his daughter from the violent future of mafia life.

"The harbor."

Katia's brows knitted. "You think Zinof is worth the harbor?" She scoffed. "I love my brother, but I'm not an idiot."

Adrik shrugged. She was right, of course. But it didn't matter. He wanted Zinof dead, and if they didn't comply with his demands, then he had every right to kill him.

Adrik nudged his head to one of his soldiers, and they continued their torture. A punch to the gut, a slap to the side of the head, a quick electric jolt that made his body shudder.

"Stop!" screamed Katia, turning her head away. The soldier behind her gripped her arms, forcing her hands down and making her watch. Katia's tears dripped down her face as more blood spilled on the floor.

A knife shined in the spotlight, and too soon, they pressed down on one of his toes, and blood splattered as it pulsed out of his foot.

Katia gritted her teeth. "It was supposed to be you!"

Adrik held up a hand and stalled the movements of his people. He approached her, the tap of his shoes echoing underneath the whimpers of his victim. "What did you say?"

With twisted lips, Katia lifted her head and bit, "It was supposed to be you."

Adrik gripped her arms now, forcing her up. "You planned it?"

"Katia," Zinof huffed, twisting in pain, "don't." A soldier was quick to gag him.

"I want him to know," she barked. "I planned it. We were at the wedding for your cousin. You promised Helina to get candy. But you were too busy fucking a bridesmaid in her car when you should have been with Helina."

Adrik's brows knitted. "You would risk our daughter?"

Tears dripped down her face. "I would risk hell to get rid of you."

---